You’ve waited long enough, Alex River Fete’ officially begins this evening.. Alexandria's signature festival promises a festive mix of music, food, culture and other activities, sandwiched around the annual Louisiana Dragon Boat Races on Saturday.. The festival takes place in downtown Alexandria through Sunday.

Grant parish authorities report the recovery of a stolen trailer and two ATV’s. All three had been reported stolen from the Prospect community. The GPSO found the items at Mud Fest. A teen and a minor have been charged.

Charges are pending after an Oklahoma man riding a bicycle was killed early Wednesday when he was hit by a pickup truck in Winn Parish. The State Police report the crash happened shortly before 7am on U.S. Highway 167, north of Dodson. It’s believed the bicyclist was well on the shoulder of the road when he was hit. He died at the scene.

We could be looking at the possibility of doing away with “Daylight Savings Time” here in Louisiana. Rep. Mark Wright of Covington presented a proposal to the House Commerce Committee this week that would create a task force to study the impacts of Daylight Saving Time. That proposal was passed favorably to the House floor. Wright and the proposal's author, Rep. Julie Stokes, feel the change in hours is unhealthy and can even lead to injury.

A bill that would allow students to wear bulletproof backpacks in public schools is set for final passage after clearing the House Education Committee. The legislation, inspired by the Parkland, Florida Shooting, received unanimous support. West Monroe Republican Mike Walsworth says something needs to be done about the lack of safety for school children.

The House Criminal Justice Committee approved Senator John Milkovich’s 15 week abortion ban bill 9-8, after it passed with little opposition in the Senate. The bill mirrors an effort in Mississippi that’s been halted in federal court, but pro-choice activists note that there are differences. They say Louisiana’s law imposes stiff criminal penalties for providers, and does not allow exceptions for fetal abnormalities. The law would not go into effect unless a federal appeals court rules favorable on the challenge to Mississippi’s 15 week abortion ban.

Two bills that would expand access to medical marijuana are close to being put into law after moving through the full House, and now being passed by a Senate committee. One bill would allow some children with autism, if prescribed, access to the treatment. The other bill would add other new conditions to the ten already in place, including PTSD, to the list of those who can be prescribed the oil or pill based treatment.

The Senate has approved legislation that puts policies in place for state government to follow in sexual harassment cases. The measure heads back to the House to see if they agree on Senate changes.

A Senate bill that would allow riverboat casinos to move onto land was approved by a House committee Wednesday despite objections by the Louisiana Family Forum, who say the legislation is expansion of gaming, because it would allow these floating casinos to have more machines. Despite the opposition, The measure is heading to the House for final passage.

A concealed carry on campus bill passed the House. The bill allows school visitors with a concealed carry permit to possess a firearm while on campus, but does not allow school officials or students with a permit to carry. Campuses include K through 12, and universities.

The East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s office has arrested a 50-year-old man on bigamy charges. Spokesperson Casey Rayborn Hicks says Chaffie Brown had a wife in Baton Rouge and in LaPlace, who he married in 1993. Hicks says Brown married another woman in 2013. Property tax records indicate Brown owned a home in St. John and in East Baton Rouge.

Sports..

Could the LSU baseball team not make the NCAA Tournament this year? D-1 Baseball-dot-com’s latest projection for the Field of 64 does not include the Tigers who have a record of 26-19, 10-11 in the SEC. D-1 Baseball-dot-com writer Kendall Rogers says LSU’s dismal 3-and-12 road record also does not help their case. LSU begins an eight-game homestand on Friday starting with a three game series against Arkansas.

Baseball at lunchtime.. it’s Houston Astros playing host to the New York Yankees today at 12:35p on 94.7 ESPN.